There is a price to pay for armour. Armour protects your precious body--your one and only--but it has great weight and great material cost. No normal person can afford the blacksmith when desiring a suit of full plate. Thankfully, while your pocket is not deep, your skills are many.

You wear your minimal Soldier’s Belt Shield when you fight, because it doesn’t weigh you down. You are faster than your opponents...but also not so dumb as to go into a fight completely unprotected.

DETAILS

Epic Armoury’s Soldier’s Belt Shield are two plates designed to protect the thighs. These rolled edge steel plates hang from your own belt to cover the outer thighs, sliding into place using brown leather loops securely fastened with rivets. Each plate is 25cm long and 21cm wide, with two 24cm folded leather loops.

The Soldier’s Belt Shield armour features a curved edge and overlapping welded plates, influenced by the look of classic tassets that can be paired with a multitude of styles. This armour does not require assistance to equip, because it is very easy to put on and take off. Made of 1 mm thick galvanized mild steel and top-grain leather straps and fittings, this armour piece is built to withstand the abuse of a LARP or reenactment with regular leather and metal armour care.

HISTORY

Plate armour became more popular as firearm technology became more prevalent during the 13th century

Historically designed with sculpted ridges and overlapping plates to provide reinforced protection and to deflect attacks on a chaotic battlefield

Made from 1mm/19 gauge thick mild steel

Rolled edges with no sharp edges

Straps and fittings made from top-grain leather

Hand made, welded pieces for maximum durability

Polished steel finish

Epic Armoury metal works products should still be treated with oil and kept in dry storage. All our metal armours contain leather parts that need regular maintenance using leather-care products to keep the leather from drying out.

Cleaning

If your armour does get wet, it is important that you dry it thoroughly as soon as possible.

After handling, wearing, or after six months of storage or display, all metal should be wiped with a clean cloth. Lightly oil the clean surface with a quality machine or mineral oil. Alternatively, you can apply a coating of wax to the entire surface of exposed metal. Allow the wax to dry for a couple of hours and then buff it lightly with a soft cloth.

Rust-Prevention and Removal

Store your armour is a dry place and check it every couple of months for signs of rust. If any is found, remove it by gently rubbing the affected spot with a mildly abrasive pad dipped in paste wax, oil, or water-displacing liquid.

Leather Straps and Fittings

Clean by removing dirt with a hard brush, then gently rub on leather soap with a clean, damp cloth until the leather appears clean. Remove soap with a separate damp cloth to wipe away any soap residue and then use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water from the leather.

You should always condition leather after cleaning, since the soap will have removed some of its natural oils. Treat the leather with mink oil, olive oil, or beeswax polish with a clean cloth, gently rubbing a small amount of oil or polish in circles into the leather. Allow the leather to soak in the oil before wiping the leather with a final clean cloth to remove any excess residue.